Nino Bonaccorsi: Pitt’s 17th NCAA Wrestling Champion

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Nino Bonaccorsi: Pitt’s 17th NCAA Wrestling Champion

3/18/2023 9:00:00 PM | Wrestling

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TULSA, Okla.—For the past six years at the University of Pittsburgh, Nino Bonaccorsi has entered the Pitt wrestling room at the Fitzgerald Field House nearly every day and looked up on the wall at a commemorative plaque recognizing the program's last NCAA national champion: Keith Gavin in 2008.

"I want to be up on that wall next to you," Bonaccorsi has told Gavin, who is now in his sixth season as the head coach of his alma mater. "I want to be a national champion."

Mission accomplished. Finally.

Turn on the Cathedral of Learning Victory Lights. Pitt has a national champion in wrestling once again.

After suffering heartbreak in the 2021 national final, Bonaccorsi (Bethel Park, Pa./Bethel Park) became Pitt's 17th national champion and first in 15 years on Saturday night at the BOK Center in Tulsa, beating South Dakota State's Tanner Sloan in the 197-pound final by 5-3 decision, overcoming a 3-0 deficit.

"This is so surreal," said Bonaccorsi. "I've been dreaming of this moment since I was a kid. I just kept wrestling. I knew it was going to be ugly, but I came away with the victory. Coach Gavin knew how much I wanted this. We put so much work into this – physically, mentally, everything. I couldn't have done it without him. I can't believe it. This is amazing."

"This feels even better than when I won," Gavin said. "I'm just so happy for him. He's gotten so much better. He has a great personality and has matured a lot. His skill development is amazing. His riding tonight, that's something he couldn't do a couple years ago. He has worked to develop every day for the last few years. It all paid off tonight."

Bonaccorsi becomes Pitt's 17th national champion – and the heaviest in program history at 197 pounds. He is also the sixth Pitt wrestler to post a perfect season, unbeaten and untied, with a 21-0 record.

Nino Bonaccorsi NCAA Champion

Pitt's NCAA National Champions (17)
Nino Bonaccorsi, 2023, 197 pounds
Keith Gavin, 2008, 174 pounds
Pat Santoro (2), 1988 and 1989, 142 pounds
Jim Harrison, 1963, 167 pounds
Larry Lauchle, 1961, 130 pounds
Paul Powell, 1958, 123 pounds
Ron Schirf, 1957, 191 pounds
Tom Alberts, 1957, 167 pounds
Ed Peery (3), 1955 and 1956 and 1957, 123 pounds
Ed DeWitt, 1956, 167 pounds
Joe Solomon, 1954, 167 pounds
Hugh Peery (3), 1952 and 1953 and 1954, 115 pounds

Pitt's Perfect Individual Seasons (8)
Nino Bonaccorsi, 2023, 21-0, 197 pounds
Keith Gavin, 2008, 33-0, 174 pounds
Pat Santoro, 1988, 48-0, 142 pounds
Ed DeWitt, 1956, 167 pounds
Ed Peery (2), 1955 and 1957, 123 pounds
Hugh Peery (2), 1953 and 1954, 115 pounds

Pitt finished the 2023 NCAA Wrestling Championships in 22nd place with 27 points. It marks Pitt's third consecutive top-25 finish at nationals, a feat the Panthers haven't accomplished since 2013-15.

Here are the Panthers' full results from this weekend in Tulsa:

Micky Phillippi, 133 Pounds, Record: 3-2, NCAA Round of 12
First Round: No. 9 Micky Phillippi (Pitt) dec. No. 24 Wyatt Henson (Oklahoma), 5-2
Second Round: No. 8 Aaron Nagao (Minnesota) pins No. 9 Micky Phillippi (Pitt), 2:50
Consolation Second Round: No. 9 Micky Phillippi (Pitt) dec. No. 23 Brody Teske (Iowa), 4-1
Round of 16: No. 9 Micky Phillippi (Pitt) dec. No. 17 Brayden Palmer (Chattanooga), 6-3
Round of 12: No. 6 Sam Latona (Virginia Tech) dec. No. 9 Micky Phillippi (Pitt), 5-1

Cole Matthews, 141 Pounds, Record: 2-2, NCAA Round of 12
First Round: No. 3 Cole Matthews (Pitt) dec. No. 30 Seth Koleno (Clarion), 4-1
Second Round: No. 3 Cole Matthews (Pitt) dec. No. 14 Cael Happel (Northern Iowa), 1-0
Quarterfinals: No. 6 Beau Bartlett (Penn State) dec. No. 3 Cole Matthews (Pitt), 3-1 TB
Round of 12: No. 17 Dylan D'Emilio (Ohio State) dec. No. 3 Cole Matthews (Pitt), 2-1 TB

Holden Heller, 165 Pounds, Record: 2-2, NCAA Round of 16
First Round: No. 20 Holden Heller (Pitt) dec. No. 13 Alex Facundo (Penn State), 5-3
Second Round: No. 29 Caleb Fish (Michigan State) dec. No. 20 Holden Heller (Pitt), 7-2
Consolation Second Round: No. 20 Holden Heller (Pitt) dec. No. 14 Peyton Hall (WVU), 9-7 SV
Round of 16: No. 12 Izzak Olejnik (Northern Illinois) medical forfeit No. 20 Holden Heller (Pitt), 5:40

Luca Augustine, 174 Pounds, Record: 0-2
First Round: No. 5 Dustin Plott (Oklahoma State) dec. No. 28 Luca Augustine (Pitt), 3-2
Consolation First Round: No. 21 Lennox Walk (Columbia) dec. No. 28 Luca Augustine (Pitt), 3-1

Reece Heller, 184 Pounds, Record: 1-2
First Round: No. 17 Tate Samuelson (Lehigh) pins No. 16 Reece Heller (Pitt), 5:45
Consolation First Round: No. 16 Reece Heller (Pitt) dec. No. 33 Anthony Carman (WVU), 11-4
Consolation Second Round: No. 18 Brian Soldano (Rutgers) pins No. 16 Reece Heller (Pitt), 3:35

Nino Bonaccorsi, 197 Pounds, NCAA Champion and NCAA All-American, Record: 5-0
First Round: No. 1 Nino Bonaccorsi (Pitt) maj. dec. No. 32 Max Shaw (North Carolina), 10-1
Second Round: No. 1 Nino Bonaccorsi (Pitt) dec. No. 16 Owen Pentz (North Dakota State), 8-2
Quarterfinals: No. 1 Nino Bonaccorsi (Pitt) dec. No. 8 Silas Allred (Nebraska), 5-3
Semifinals: No. 1 Nino Bonaccorsi (Pitt) dec. No. 4 Ethan Laird (Rider), 10-4
Final: No. 1 Nino Bonaccorsi (Pitt) dec. No. 7 Tanner Sloan (South Dakota State), 5-3

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